THE EVOLUTION AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROPER POLICE CONDUCT
The duty of a police officer is to deter crime while protecting and aiding the community. Citizens put trust into law enforcement to follow through and uphold police behavioral standards as well. Training is the largest factor associated with improper police conduct. In this paper, I will examine the importance of law enforcement training and how the lack of it, results in improper conduct, throughout the police agency and community. I will argue that there are many negative issues with law enforcement dating back many centuries. In addition, I will include a significant Supreme Court case and how it impacted all law enforcement and led to new regulations.
Law enforcement training dates back to the 19th century, starting with the political era. The political era was a time where law enforcement was controlled by politics and police were poorly trained and often corrupt (Lab et al., 2016, p.55). Ran on a political patronage system, although law enforcement officials provided services to citizens, the interest of politicians were served and met first. In an attempt to reform the political era and shift the focus of the corrupt government, came the professional era. The professional era centered on improving police training standards and integrate scientific crime detention methods (Lab et al., 2016, p. 55). Although in an attempt to professionalize police, the professional model failed. One factor helped police
Concepts like crime prevention, authority, professionalism and discretion have evolved in modern law enforcement since the twentieth century. August Vollmer instituted university training as a tool for young officers in training and under Vollmer’s teachings; O.W. Wilson pioneered the use of advanced training for officers and is also known for the start of criminal justice as an academic field. Wilson was also instrumental in applying modern management and administrative techniques to policing. Vollmer’s drive for educational innovations and improvements has changed policing tremendously and is still practiced heavily upon in today’s modern law enforcement society.
Differences and Similarities in Police Training and Policy in the United States and other Countries
Since the beginning of police work in America, the system has changed from disorganized chaos into a well structured and rather complex network of communication, response efforts, and detection of lawless behavior. From the creation of the town watch to the transformation of the first police force in the colonies to the lawlessness of the old west and the efforts to revive efficient police work, America has been ever advancing its protection of those who live in the White House, the suburbs, the slums, and even those struggling on the streets. The History of Policing in America is not derived from one origin of time but rather taking the highest qualities of protection from within itself and countries of both friend and foe.
In recent months, there have been a number of different riots and demonstrations occurring to show just how displeased our nation is with the current treatment of American citizens by the police. These movements have been created out of the turmoil that ensued after several different civilians were shot down in the streets by police officers after an encounter. It has become easy for people to look at these incidents and consider them isolated, and downplay the problem at hand. However, statistics taken from the United States Department of Justice would show otherwise. During a national survey, police departments were questioned about abuse of authority, and showed us that most departments have an internal discipline problem, where rule infractions, unmoral behavior, and emotional and physical abuse are overlooked. Forty three percent of cops interviewed said that “Always following the rules is not compatible with getting the job done” (Cop Crisis, 2015). When the rules are put to the side, and the reasoning behind the laws and opinions that put those rules into place is lost, then anything can happen. Over half the cops interviewed, fifty two percent said “It is not unusual for a police officer to turn a blind eye to improper
Many people might argue that the lack of training in the police force is more harmful to the officers than the effect it has on society. Leslie Pfeiffer mentions in her article “” that the Federal government devotes a shocking amount of money toward training, yet local police agencies are often left to fend for themselves” (Pfeiffer). Whatsoever the federal government may be doing with the funds should undoubtedly be providing effective programs and necessities to ensure a complete and sufficient training process for officers. Often time’s people forget that although the officer is vulnerable to failure, error, and possible injury, in the event of a possible suspect or wrongfully accused person the lack of knowledge perceived by the officer can cause outcomes such as hostility, hatred, and death. Not only are officers fending for themselves but in
After the civil war, local politicians rewarded their supporters with jobs as police officers. The officer were not trained and there was not a standard to become an officer. The are were event when entire departments were involved in misconduct and corruption. There was not much hope in this era because there was a lack of supervision that allowed officers to behave the way that they pleased. (Walker, Samuel, and Richards, M. 1996)
Policing in America underwent a major paradigm shift in the way that law enforcement was carried out – this shift was known as a shift from the Political Era to the Professional (Reform) Era (Roberg, Novak, Cordner, & Smith, 2015). This switch in eras happened in the United States during a period branded as the Progressive Era, when many “types of problems … began to be addressed not only in the public sector but also in private enterprise” (Roberg et al., 2015, p. 41). This movement affected the United States and the American life since it functioned on the ideas that there should be “(1) honest and efficiency in government, (2) more authority for public officials (and less for politicians), and (3) the use of experts to respond to specific
Law enforcement has three major eras throughout history. The eras of policing that will be discussed in this paper are as follows; the political era which was from 1840 – 1930, the reform era which was from 1930 -1980, and last but not least the community problem solving era which is from 1980- 1995. Each one of these era’s had an impact on today’s policing and we are going to discuss each one and ultimately decide which one had the most effect on today’s policing.
This paper will identity the types of training and education required throughout the career in law enforcement, the steps a law enforcement officer can take to become a trainer and instructor, and the civil and criminal liabilities and issues that can be present during the process of both.
True professionalism in policing is viewed as a recognized indicator and predictor of police effectiveness nationwide (Walker, 2011, pp. 122-123). The professional model of policing, as proposed by the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice (1967) and the National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals (1973), as well as the National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement (1931), are the cornerstones of the concept of police professionalism today. The movement towards professionalism is to encourage higher standards of selection for police officers, including more formal education and training procedures. Professionalization includes: 1.
Police officer training is a vital component to the safety of the citizens that the officers are sworn to protect and the laws that they are sworn to uphold. Police officer training doesn’t start when the officer is out in the field, it begins way before that. Training, you can say, begins at a young age, especially for those that want to pursue a career in law enforcement. Once the decision is made to follow a law enforcement path then all of that person’s efforts should be applied to what needs to be done. Studies that have been conducted show statistics on the numbers of people in academies and what they are trained in. Other studies show the interaction between police and citizens. They also show the type of personnel, the policies, and the practices that are followed. The articles that are being presented will review the training that an officer should receive from admittance in a police academy and throughout their career in law enforcement. The articles will focus on various aspects such as training, contacts with citizens, complaints on officers about the use of force, racial differences, and practices. All of them have something to do with officer training or the lack there of and all should be taken into consideration by an officer.
Gaines, L. K., & Kappeler, V. E. (2014). Policing in america (8th ed.). (S. Decker-Lucke, Ed.) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America: Anderson Publishing. Retrieved January 2017
Police Agencies in modern society are a part of the American fabric to serve and protect the American public. The United States currently have more than 15,000 police agencies, (Walker & Katz, 2011). Police Departments across the United States face similar critical issues policing. All police officers face dangers in the job of policing the dangers can emanate from internal and external origins. Police officers have continued to evolve to serve communities by finding better less than lethal alternatives to weapons used. In addition, police departments have continued to keep up with
Police Reform should be one of the many issues handled in the first one-hundred days of our new President’s term. The unrest and corruption are actions that do not belong in our police force. The criminal justice system needs revised. Since 1791 Americans have lost 20,789 officers killed in the line of duty (Law Enforcement Facts 1). To modernize this statistic, from 2004-2013 an average of 151 officers have died in the line of duty (Deaths,
Police use of force policies are used by all types of law enforcement officers. There is a concern for a balance of ethical decisions. There are mutual concerns for the rights and lives of civilians and the wellbeing and lives of officers. Upholding excessive stress-free standards for employed law enforcement is detrimental to police use of force mandates. Police organizations can reduce some of the scenarios that cause use of force outcomes. There is a need to find what process can identify potential issues prior to events or actions that cause criminal misconduct by law enforcement. Police training and development needs reassessment. There needs to be an administration of logic and reasoning prior to the use of any force, especially deadly force. Most of the police operations that incite these negative outcomes are avoidable with the implementation of proper training.